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The Entertainment Edit
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items From podcasts that make me think (or laugh out loud) to binge-worthy television, reality TV obsessions, unforgettable movies, and documentaries that send me down a research rabbit hole, this is my curated collection of entertainment recommendations. ...
Sections
5
The Book Edit
The Podcast Edit
The Reality Edit
The Movie Edit
The Television Edit
The Book Edit
I'd be remiss if, as a former librarian, I didn't include a books section here. From thought-provoking nonfiction to novels I couldn't put down, these are the books that have stayed with me, taught me something new, or simply provided a great escape....
As a former librarian, I'm always drawn to memoirs that tell a deeply personal story while offering something universal. In Strangers, Belle Burden shares her experience of navigating the aftermath of her husband's infidelity and the unraveling of th...
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Burden
Some books become classics for a reason, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil earns its reputation. Part true crime, part Southern gothic, and part portrait of Savannah society, it blends fact and storytelling in a way that makes it nearly imp...
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Few novels manage to be both sweeping and deeply personal, but Middlesex does exactly that. Spanning generations, continents, and decades, it follows the story of Calliope Stephanides and the family history that ultimately shapes their identity. Euge...
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
This is one of those books that sparks reflection long after you've finished reading. In On Our Best Behavior, Elise Loehnen examines the often-unspoken rules, expectations, and beliefs many women absorb throughout their lives—and how those messages ...
On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen
Three Women is one of the most compelling nonfiction books I've read about desire, relationships, and the complicated realities of women's lives. Through years of reporting, Lisa Taddeo tells the stories of three very different women, exploring how l...
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
This was such an enjoyable read, especially for women who appreciate stories about friendship, reinvention, and questioning the roles we've been taught to play. Set in the 1960s, The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows a group of women whose live...
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
The Wedding People is one of those rare novels that manages to be laugh-out-loud funny and emotionally resonant at the same time. The story begins with Phoebe arriving alone at a luxury hotel, only to find herself unexpectedly swept into the orbit of...
The Wedding People: A Novel - Alison Espach
Know My Name is one of the most powerful memoirs I've read. In it, Chanel Miller reclaims her story after being known publicly only as "Emily Doe" in the highly publicized Stanford sexual assault case. What unfolds is far more than a memoir about a c...
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
The Tell is a deeply personal memoir about memory, identity, and the lengths we go to in order to survive difficult experiences. Amy Griffin shares her journey of uncovering long-buried truths about her past and confronting the impact those experienc...
The Tell by Amy Griffin
Leaving the Saints is one of the most fascinating memoirs I've read about identity, faith, and the courage it takes to question deeply held beliefs. Martha Beck recounts her experience growing up in a prominent Mormon family and the difficult journey...
Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons
All Fours is one of the most talked-about novels in recent years, and for good reason. Miranda July takes a fearless look at midlife, marriage, desire, identity, and the quiet ways women begin to question the lives they've built. What starts as a sim...
All Fours by Miranda July
ome books are literary masterpieces, and some books are simply impossible to put down. The Da Vinci Code falls firmly into the second category. Dan Brown combines art history, religious symbolism, secret societies, and a relentless pace to create one...
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
While The Da Vinci Code gets most of the attention, Angels & Demons was actually my favorite of the two. The story moves at a breakneck pace, combining science, religion, history, and conspiracy into a thriller that's nearly impossible to put dow...
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
If you enjoy narrative nonfiction that reads like a thriller, The Devil in the White City is hard to put down. Erik Larson masterfully weaves together the story of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago with the chilling crimes of H.H. Holmes, creating a f...
The Devil in the White City
The Podcast Edit
A curated collection of podcasts that entertain, inform, and occasionally send me down a research rabbit hole. From midlife wisdom to Bravo drama, these are the shows I keep coming back to.
Amy Poehler's Good Hang feels like sitting in on a funny, unfiltered conversation between smart friends. I love that it's entertaining without feeling superficial—there's plenty of humor, but also thoughtful discussions about work, creativity, relati...
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
The Deep Dive is one of those podcasts that feels like a conversation with friends who aren't afraid to talk about what midlife really looks like. Jessica St. Clair and June Diane Raphael blend humor, honesty, and vulnerability as they discuss everyt...
The Deep Dive with Jessica St. Clair and June Diane Raphael | Lemonada Media
SmartLess is my go-to when I want to be entertained and learn something at the same time. Hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, the interviews feel more like lively conversations than traditional celebrity Q&As. The hosts have gre...
Smartless
If Bravo is your comfort watch, Sexy Unique Podcast is a must-listen. Hosts Lara Marie Schoenhals and Carey O'Donnell bring hilarious commentary, deep Bravo knowledge, and the kind of niche observations that make longtime fans feel seen. Their recaps...
SUP
Staying Alive is wellness through the lens of two funny, self-aware guys who know they're not exactly health gurus. Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally explore fitness, nutrition, aging, and self-improvement with plenty of humor and self-deprecation, making we...
Staying Alive with Jon Gabrus & Adam Pally
Dear Chelsea is part advice podcast, part comedy show, and part reminder that we're all just figuring it out as we go. Chelsea Handler tackles listener questions about relationships, family, careers, friendships, and personal growth with her signatur...
Dear Chelsea
Dead Eyes starts with a simple question: why was actor and comedian Connor Ratliff fired from a small role in Band of Brothers by Tom Hanks for supposedly having "dead eyes"? What follows is one of the most unique, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful ...
Dead Eyes
Casey & Danielle's Garbage World is my kind of comfort listening: funny, smart, and completely unpretentious. Whether they're breaking down pop culture, reality TV, internet oddities, or the random things we all become oddly obsessed with, the co...
Casey and Danielle's Garbage World
Scamanda tells the unbelievable true story of a woman who built an entire life around deception, and somehow each episode becomes more shocking than the last. It's one of those podcasts that had me immediately searching for the next episode because I...
Scamanda
The Reality Edit
The shows that help me turn off my brain for an hour and enjoy the drama, friendships, feuds, and absurd moments that only reality TV can deliver. No judgment here—just the reality shows I think are worth your time.
If you're new to the Real Housewives franchise, Salt Lake City is one of the best places to start. The cast delivers everything you want from Housewives—over-the-top personalities, genuine friendships, unforgettable feuds, and plot twists that someho...
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City - Official Site - Bravo TV
The newest addition to the Real Housewives universe doesn't disappoint. Bravo clearly understood the assignment when casting this group—big personalities, deep-rooted relationships, plenty of opinions, and the kind of drama that feels authentic rathe...
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island
If you thought the drama ended when the cast of your favorite reality shows settled down, The Valley proves otherwise. Centered on friendships, marriages, parenting, and the complexities of adult life, it delivers the perfect mix of relatable midlife...
The Valley
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is classic Housewives for a reason. Between the glamorous lifestyles, long-running friendships, shifting alliances, and unforgettable feuds, there's always something happening. While the luxury and over-the-top mo...
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Southern Charm is one of those reality shows that keeps pulling me back in. Set in Charleston, it follows a tight-knit group of friends navigating relationships, careers, family expectations, and plenty of drama along the way. The mix of Southern cul...
Southern Charm
Summer House remains one of Bravo's most talked-about shows, especially with all the recent buzz surrounding the Amanda and West drama that has fans debating every detail. What starts as a group of friends spending weekends together quickly becomes a...
Summer House
The Parisian Agency is one of my favorite comfort watches. The cinematography and music are absolutely beautiful, and every episode offers a glimpse into European life through the lens of extraordinary homes, charming neighborhoods, and family-run bu...
The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties
The Movie Edit
Some movies are worth watching once. These are the ones worth watching again and again. From beloved classics to newer releases that earned a permanent spot on my favorites list, consider this my curated collection of films that stand the test of tim...
I grew up watching Alfred Hitchcock movies with my dad, and Rear Window has always been one of my favorites. What starts as a man watching his neighbors from his apartment window turns into a masterclass in suspense, proving that great storytelling n...
Rear Window (1954) - IMDb
Another Hitchcock favorite from my childhood movie nights with my dad, The Birds is one of those films that sticks with you long after it's over. The premise sounds almost absurd—birds suddenly attacking people—but Hitchcock turns it into something g...
The Birds
Out of Africa is the kind of movie that reminds me why some films become classics. The breathtaking scenery, unforgettable score, and sweeping story make it easy to get lost in. And honestly, you can never go wrong with Meryl Streep and Robert Redfor...
Out of Africa
If you can quote Steel Magnolias, we're probably going to be friends. This Southern classic somehow manages to be laugh-out-loud funny and deeply emotional at the same time, with a cast that couldn't be more perfect. The friendships, one-liners, and ...
Steel Magnolias
Some movies get better with every viewing, and The Shawshank Redemption is one of them. It's a beautifully told story about friendship, perseverance, and hope that never feels dated. The characters stay with you long after the movie ends, and there a...
The Shawshank Redemption
As a former librarian, it's probably no surprise that All the President's Men is one of my all-time favorites. Based on the true story of the Washington Post reporters who uncovered the Watergate scandal, it's a fascinating look at investigative jour...
All the President's Men
The 'Burbs is one of those movies I can watch over and over and still laugh at the same scenes. Tom Hanks is perfect as a suburban homeowner whose curiosity about the mysterious neighbors next door spirals completely out of control. Equal parts comed...
The 'Burbs
Oppenheimer is the kind of movie that stays with you long after you've watched it. More than a biopic, it's a fascinating look at ambition, innovation, power, and the consequences of world-changing decisions. The performances are exceptional, the sto...
Oppenheimer
You Can Count on Me is one of those quiet, character-driven movies that doesn't need big twists or special effects to leave an impression. Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo are outstanding as siblings navigating family, responsibility, and the complicate...
You Can Count on Me
The Holdovers feels like the kind of movie they don't make often enough anymore. Set at a New England boarding school in the 1970s, it's funny, heartfelt, and filled with characters who feel completely real. Paul Giamatti is fantastic, but it's the u...
The Holdovers
The Television Edit
These are the scripted series that earned a spot on my all-time favorites list. From smart comedies to unforgettable dramas, they're the shows I've recommended, revisited, and enjoyed long after the final episode aired.
I've rewatched Mad Men three times, and I notice something new every time. On the surface, it's a beautifully crafted period drama set in the world of 1960s advertising, but it's really about identity, ambition, relationships, and the stories we tell...
Mad Men
Parks and Recreation is one of my all-time comfort shows and a series I've watched more times than I can count. The characters are quirky, optimistic, and genuinely lovable, making Pawnee feel like a place you'd actually want to visit. What starts as...
Parks and Recreation
The Office is one of those rare shows that somehow gets funnier with every rewatch. I've seen many episodes multiple times, yet I still catch jokes, background moments, and character quirks I missed before. What makes it so great isn't just the comed...
The Office
Lost wasn't just a TV show—it was an event. I remember eagerly waiting for new episodes and then spending the next week talking about theories, clues, and what might happen next. Blending mystery, adventure, science fiction, and deeply human stories,...
Lost
Downton Abbey is one of my favorite comfort watches and a series I've happily revisited more than once. Set against the backdrop of a changing England, it combines memorable characters, sharp wit, family drama, romance, and just the right amount of s...
Downton Abbey
Better Things is one of the most honest portrayals of modern motherhood and midlife that I've seen on television. Created by and starring Pamela Adlon, the series follows a working mom juggling parenting, aging parents, friendships, work, and the eve...
Better Things
Life in Pieces is one of those underrated sitcoms that deserved a much bigger audience. Told through a series of short, interconnected stories, it follows the ups and downs of a multi-generational family with plenty of humor and heart. The cast is fa...
Life in Pieces